my random ramblingsan infrequent (and these days, mostly Mira related…) blog

flight out of Lima at 1:30 am. flying LIM -> ATL -> SLC -> JAC, with an 8 hour layover in Atlanta. great trip, but also great to be home.

breakfast at the Rumi Punku then checked out and said my goodbyes to Cusco. taxied to the airport and flew back to Lima. hired a taxi driver to give me a driving tour of the city, stopped at the Plaza de Armas, then drove out to Miraflores for the day. beautiful views of the coast line, spent some time at a fancy shopping mall, ate loads of ceviche, and even spent a few hours at the local rock & bowl while waiting for my late flight out of Peru. walked the streets for the last time then caught a taxi back to the airport and my flights home.

another early morning to ensure i’d be 1 of the only 200 people allowed to climb Huanya Picchu in the morning. was disappointed to not make the first bus up, so as my second bus arrived, i challenged myself to still be first in line for the entrance gate at the start of the climb, a la Amazing Race. already knowing the layout of Machu Picchu from the day prior, i went a different route through the ruins and managed to beat everyone from the bus that arrived 15 minutes before mine. the climb up Huanya Picchu was incredible with outstanding views with each new step. was a tough climb, but was too much fun to really notice. spent some time at the ruins on top of the peak, then waited hours for the clouds to clear and afford views of Machu Picchu below. eventually made my way down and back into Machu Picchu for further explorations. reluctantly left and took the bus back into Aguas Calientes, showered at the hotel, then spent the rest of the afternoon sitting at a restaurant on the square watching the town go by. took the Vista Dome back down to Ollantaytambo, and was to witness a very bizarre fashion show along the way. from Ollantaytambo, taxied back to Cusco and checked back into the Rumi Punku for the last time. caught a late dinner on the Plaza de Armas, then went back and had a fine sleep.

very early breakfast, then walked to the train station and boarded the Vista Dome for the ride up to Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes, the town at its base. the view from the window was great during the train ride, following the Urubamba River through the valley. got to Aguas Calientes and found an acceptable hotel for the next 2 nights. walked around the town a bit, then picked up entrance tickets to Machu Picchu for the next 2 days. took the bus up the winding mountain road and was ultimately deposited atop this magical peak. spent the rest of the day touring Machu Picchu and was humbled by the beauty and spirtual aura eminating from the place. i don’t think it’s possible to take a bad photograph while on the mountain, as you’re surrounded by breathtakingly spectacular scenery. relunctantly headed back down to Aguas Calientes and walked the streets some more as darkness fell. randomly picked a place for dinner which was quite nice, then found my way back to the hotel.

another great breakfast at the Rumi Punku, then checked out and visited Saqsaywaman just outside of Cusco. impressive structure, would have loved to have seen it in its glory days. taxied to Písac and sat in the main square and took in the city and its sights. grabbed another taxi and had the driver take me up to the ruins above the city. did a short walking tour there, then jumped back in the cab and made the long drive through the Sacred Valley to the town of Ollantaytambo. checked into my room at the Hotel Sauce which provided amazing views from my window of the ruins only a stone’s throw away. spent the rest of the day in the ruins, which were one of my favorites of the trip. came back down to the hotel, cleaned up and walked the streets of the small town. found a nice place for dinner, and more ceviche and trucha.

up early, and reversed the multi-stage journey from the lodge back to Puerto Maldonado. flew back into Cusco and returned to the Rumi Punku. spent the day on a continued exploration of the city, stopped by the Inka Grill again for ceviche, and had some great trucha for dinner at another restaurant just off of the Plaza de Armas. was perfect timing as there was a huge downpour during dinner. back to the hotel, and had some of their fantastic anis and coca teas before bed.

nice breakfast in the lodge, then the morning boat tour which found the elusive giant otter family living on the lake. spent some time watching them eat and play then continued boating around the lake. nice lunch, more hikes, and more boating on the lake. came across a number of monkey groups during the day and stopped to watch them pass. another great meal for dinner, then a late night boat tour to watch the crocodiles in the lake.

nice breakfast in the hotel, and left some of my luggage behind (mistakenly including my shorts which i’d later regret) prior to heading back to the airport. flew to Puerto Maldonado, bringing a massive change in scenery. dropped practically to sea level from Cusco’s 11,2000′ altitude into the Amazon jungle. picked up at the airport by the lodge and taken through the strange little town. made our way to the banks of the Madre de Dios River and boarded a motor boat. after a 45 minute ride we were let off on the shore at the Tambopata National Reserve. hiked for a few miles, then canoed across the Sandoval Lake to the lodge on the far side. beautiful jungle, lake and lodge, but SO hot and humid. met a guy staying at the lodge that went to my elementary school in New Orleans. did some nice tours on the lake, some hikes in the surrounding jungle, and had a couple of fantastic meals. long night talking in the restaurant bar, then some well earned sleep after a long day.

arrived in Lima at 1 am, and sat around the airport until my 5:40 am flight to Cusco. enjoyed the view from the window to Cusco, and the landing looked challenging in the small valley perched high in the mountains. checked into the Rumi Punku, which i thought was perfect. walked into the Plaza de Armas and wandered the streets around town. toured the Qorikancha, the Basilica Cathedral, and the Museo Inka. stopped by the Inka Grill for lunch, then went back to the hotel for a nap. got up, did some more walking and window shopping and found a nice spot for dinner.

slept in and had a nice huevos rancheros for brunch in the hotel. eventually checked out and headed back to the airport for my flight to LIM. had some obnoxious neighbors in the first class cabin that got smashed, managing to consume all of the airplane’s wine. best part came when we landed and one of them was unable to wake up, sprawled in her seat with her purse wide open on her lap. i wasn’t about to help…